By Brant Batters

WINNIPEG – Manitoba got back on a winning note, playing their first game of the year on home ice.

The University of Manitoba edged the University of British Columbia 3-2 Friday night at the Max Bell Arena.

The Herd were led by Travis Kornelsen who had two goals and Chris Falloon with a goal and an assist. Matt Allen and Jeff Lynch replied for the T-Birds.

“It was a big win tonight with us chasing UBC,” said Kornelsen. “We only have eight games after this so these points are crucial. And it was the team we’re chasing so it really helps us out a lot.”

With the win, Manitoba snaps a four-game losing streak and improves their record to 10-10-1. They now only sit one point back of UBC for fourth place in the Canada West standings, with two games in hand. The T-Birds drop to 11-12-0.

“We want to get as high as we can,” said Bisons head coach Don MacGillivray. “We knew this was going to be a tough game. We have a lot of respect for UBC and their team. Everybody’s running out of games here so we’re getting a little bit closer to our first goal which is getting into the playoffs. Then once we get into the playoffs our second goal is to get as high as we can.

The Canada West standings have been as competitive as they’ve ever been this year. Saskatchewan and Alberta are ranked No. 3 and 4 in the nation respectively. But both teams have suffered losses to hard charging Calgary in the New Year. That includes the Golden Bears being swept by the No. 8-ranked Dinos last weekend. Meanwhile, both Manitoba and UBC have been ranked in the top ten. The Bisons got as high as ninth (Dec. 4/07) and the T-Birds made it to fourth in the nation (Oct. 30/07).

The Bisons opened the scoring with only 1:31 left in the first period. Kornelsen snagged the puck in the slot, and fired on the T-Birds goal. It hit something in front of UBC netminder Gerry Festa and redirected into the back net. Kornelsen’s eighth goal of the season made it 1-0.

The T-Birds were able to even the score with a penalty box full of Bisons. Mike Hellyer was already serving a goalie interference penalty when Jon Cara was called for hooking. After Cara was sent to the sin bin, Myles Rumsey had some choice words for the officials and was given an unsportsmanlike misconduct. With a two-man advantage, UBC pinned Manitoba deep in its own end, finally scoring when Allen whacked home a loose puck. Allen tied the game 1-1 at 14:06 of the second.

Manitoba quickly regained their one goal lead just under two-minutes later. Nick Cowan sprung Falloon on a clear breakaway. Falloon made several dekes but couldn’t get it past Festa. Kornelsen was there following up the play though to bang in the rebound over the helpless Festa. Kornelsen’s second of the game came at 15:54.

UBC’S Lynch then tied the game at two-a-piece at 9:15 of the third period. Lynch created his own opportunity by blocking at his own blue-line. He managed to pull away from two Bisons in pursuit, snapping a shot from the slot past Manitoba’s Krister Toews.

Falloon scored on the powerplay to make the score 3-2. He came from behind the T-Bird net, grabbing a rebound off the end-boards for the wrap-around goal and his tenth of year. Falloon’s game-winning goal came at 12:33.

Toews made 22 saves in the win for the Bisons, while Festa stopped 19 in the losing effort for the T-Birds.

Manitoba and UBC will play game two of their weekend series Saturday night at the Max Bell Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.